Tsuga plant named ‘MonKinn’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Tsuga  plant named ‘MonKinn’, characterized by its compact, upright to arching and mounding plant habit; vigorous and moderately fast-growing growth habit; freely branching habit, dense and bushy plant form; bright yellow green-colored developing leaves; and tolerance to full sunlight conditions.

Botanical designation: Tsuga canadensis.

Cultivar denomination: ‘MONKINN’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present Invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Tsuga plant, botanically known as Tsuga canadensis, and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘MonKinn’.

The new Tsuga plant is a naturally-occurring whole plant mutation of an unnamed selection of Tsuga canadensis, not patented. The new Tsuga plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single plant in July, 2000 from within a population of plants of the unnamed selection in a controlled outdoor nursery environment in Dayton, Oreg.

Asexual reproduction of the new Tsuga plant by cuttings in a controlled environment in Dayton, Oreg. since December 2007 has shown that the unique features of this new Tsuga plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Tsuga have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘MonKinn’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘MonKinn’ as a new and distinct Tsuga plant:

-   -   1. Compact, upright to arching and mounding plant habit.     -   2. Vigorous and moderately fast-growing growth habit.     -   3. Freely branching habit, dense and bushy plant form.     -   4. Bright yellow green-colored developing leaves.     -   5. Tolerant to full sunlight conditions.

Plants of the new Tsuga are most similar to plants of the unnamed parent selection. In side-by-side comparison, plants of the new Tsuga differ primarily from plants of the unnamed parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Tsuga are much more compact than plants of         the unnamed parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Tsuga are arching and mounding whereas         plants of the unnamed parent selection are pyramidal in form.     -   3. Plants of the new Tsuga and the unnamed parent selection         differ in leaf color as plants of the unnamed parent selection         have dark green-colored leaves.

Plants of the new Cedar can also be compared to plants of Tsuga canadensis ‘Jeddeloh’, not patented. Plants of the new Tsuga differ from plants of ‘Jeddeloh’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Tsuga are arching and mounding whereas         plants of ‘Jeddeloh’ are low spreading and pendulous.     -   2. Plants of the new Tsuga and ‘Jeddeloh’ differ in leaf color         as leaves of plants of ‘Jeddeloh are medium green in color.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Tsuga plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Tsuga plant.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet is a side perspective view of a typical plant of ‘MonKinn’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the top of the sheet is a close-up view of a typical plant of ‘MonKinn’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

Plants used for the aforementioned photographs and following observations and measurements were grown in two-gallon containers in Dayton, Oreg. during the winter in an outdoor nursery and under cultural practices typical of commercial Tsuga plant production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 4° C. to 32° C. and night temperatures ranged from −2° C. to 15° C. Plants were 33 months old when the photographs and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Tsuga canadensis ‘MonKinn’. -   Parentage: Naturally-occurring whole plant mutation of an unnamed     selection of Tsuga canadensis, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About two to three months at             soil temperatures ranging from 16° C. to 24° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About three             months at soil temperatures ranging from 16° C. to 24° C.         -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous; white in             color.         -   Rooting habit.—Moderately freely branching; medium density. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Compact, upright to arching and             mounding evergreen shrub, nearly rounded plant habit;             vigorous and moderately fast-growing growth habit.         -   Branching habit.—Freely branching with about ten lateral             branches developing per plant; dense and bushy plant form;             plants maintain their lower branches and foliage at the soil             level.         -   Plant height.—About 35 cm.         -   Plant diameter.—About 46 cm.         -   Lateral branch description.—Length: About 32 cm. Diameter:             About 6 mm. Internode length: About 1.8 cm to 2.5 cm.             Texture, young branches: Pubescent. Texture, mature             branches: Woody, slightly rough. Strength: Strong. Aspect:             About 45 to 55° from vertical. Color, young branches: Close             to 145A to 145B. Color, mature branches: Close to 199A.         -   Leaf description.—Arrangement: Alternate and opposite;             simple. Length: About 1.4 cm. Width: About 2 mm. Shape:             Acicular, flattened. Apex: Acute. Base: Attenuate. Margin,             developing leaves: Entire. Margin, fully expanded leaves:             Mostly entire and finely denticulate. Texture, upper and             lower surface: Smooth, glabrous. Venation pattern: Single             midvein. Color: Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to             150C to 150D. Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to             151A. Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 146B;             venation, close to 146A; leaves tolerant to full sunlight             conditions. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to             146D; narrow longitudinal stripes, close to 148D; venation,             close to 148B. Petioles: Length: Less than 1 mm. Diameter:             Less than 1 mm. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,             glabrous. Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 145D.             Cone description: Cone development has not been observed on             plants of the new Tsuga. -   Disease & pest resistance: Plants of the new Tsuga have not been     noted to be resistant to pathogens or pests common to Tsuga plants. -   Weather tolerance: Plants of the new Tsuga plant have been observed     to be tolerant to drought, rain, wind and full sunlight. Plants of     the new Tsuga are hardy to USDA Hardiness Zones 4. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Tsuga plant named ‘MonKinn’ as illustrated and described. 